"Oblivion..."
I glared fiercely at Oblivion, my body in terrible shape—barely able to contain the power surging inside, desperate to burst free.
"Cousin, for the last time, listen to me, will you?"
At that moment, Howard Zhang turned to me, his eyes filled with sorrow. I kept shaking my head, refusing.
"Go now, don't worry about me. Cousin, I... I can't bear to see you hurt again. I'll handle everything here."
I stared dumbfounded at Howard Zhang. In his eyes was a look of absolute resolve, and his body began to emit a golden glow.
Suddenly, Brother Owen's eyes widened in shock.
"Don't even think about it, Howard Zhang. Your body will be mine."
As he spoke, Brother Owen immediately raised his hand. A tiny golden worm emerged from his palm. I lifted my hand and instantly flew toward the black barrier.
Howard Zhang roared in anger. I knew exactly what he wanted to do. Suddenly, with a bang, I crashed into Oblivion, and in that instant, I was struck by a punch and sent tumbling toward the ground.
"Get out of the way, Oblivion..."
I roared, just as the golden worm burrowed into Howard Zhang's chest. The golden light radiating from him abruptly vanished, and he looked at me with bitter regret.
"Cousin, go now. This time, I can't save you. Last time, I failed too—there was nothing I could do. All I want is for you to be safe, for everyone I love to be safe. That would be enough for me. Go, cousin, go..."
Howard Zhang shouted, tears streaming down his face. Above us, that mass of sand still hovered. I roared and stood up, my skin splitting, black light turning to smoke and pouring out. Clutching my head, I knelt to the ground, unable to hold back the rampaging demon within.
"It hurts, doesn't it, Ethan Zhang? Let me help you end it. Just sleep, and when you wake up, you'll be at the Immortality Society."
Oblivion spoke, stepping toward me through the air, one deliberate step at a time.
Images flashed through my mind—Rachel Lan's final words grew ever clearer. I roared, head thrown back.
"No matter what, I will save you, cousin..."
With a thunderous crash, I charged at Oblivion.
"Fast, aren't you..."
I raised my fist, swirling with Deathbane Aura, and struck Mr. Oblivion's mask with a thunderous blow. He was sent flying into the distance. Instantly, I rushed toward the black barrier—I had to save Howard Zhang. That was my only thought, the one thing keeping me conscious.
In my hand, I gripped the Spectral Shotgun tightly, pouring all my strength into breaking through the barrier. With a crash, I spat blood—it was Mr. Oblivion, who had slammed his fist into my chest, Deathbane Aura erupting everywhere as I was sent flying.
"Brother Owen, you'd better be careful. The power inside Ethan Zhang is still rising. Let me stand guard for you—hurry up."
Without another word, I saw Brother Owen slowly move toward Howard Zhang. Golden light connected the two, while flashes of red, white, and green glimmered from Brother Owen's body.
All around, the ghostworms kept swarming, never stopping. As soon as I landed, one crawled toward me. I roared, smashed it with a punch, sprang up, and with a flick of my wrist, Hell's Sentinel flew back into my hand from afar.
The power inside me was about to tear my ghost soul apart. I kept suppressing it, fighting the force that threatened to destroy me.
"Come on, Ethan Zhang."
Suddenly, Mr. Oblivion grabbed my neck. I swung Hell's Sentinel at him, but with a clang, he blocked it with his arm. Then he yanked me out of the mist, raised his fist, and smashed it into my chest.
Suddenly, Oblivion grabbed my neck. I swung Hell's Sentinel at him, but with a clang, he blocked it with his arm. Then he yanked me out of the mist, raised his fist, and smashed it into my chest.
"Unstable, aren't you, Ethan Zhang..."
With a crack, Oblivion's fist came crashing down. I aimed the Spectral Shotgun at his fist and fired—a wild burst of flame erupted instantly.
The spot before me was swallowed by the fiery round from the Spectral Shotgun. In the black flames, Oblivion's figure vanished. The recoil slammed me to the ground, my arm charred and the Spectral Shotgun twisting and melting in my grip.
The raging fire continued to devour everything. The ghostworms screamed as they burned. Bracing myself, I rose, roaring, and instantly conjured a Ghost Eagle in my hand.
"Load... Desire Bullet..."
With a whoosh, I soared upward. Black flames still burned, piercing the sky. Much of Brother Owen's ghost domain was exposed—revealing the outside world and the Sanctuary Range. His domain was in ruins.
I kept searching for Oblivion's figure. Sure enough, amid the sea of fire, I saw him flying toward me. His clothes were burned away, skin charred, flesh torn, but white smoke began to rise—he was already starting to recover.
With a whoosh, Oblivion's exposed right hand struck at me. I raised the Ghost Eagle, aiming at his heart.
Mr. Oblivion seemed to realize what I was planning. He didn't come closer, but instead slowly lifted his leg from a distance.
Bang—a nearly invisible bullet shot out, exploding in midair and unleashing a burst of dazzling, multicolored light.
Suddenly, I saw Mr. Oblivion unleash a flurry of kicks. A blur of legs—then I was struck by something invisible, followed by a series of crashes. Black blood spewed from my mouth as my body was riddled with holes.
"Close call, Ethan Zhang. That bullet of yours—made just to deal with us Immortality Society types, huh? Heh."
With a sudden whoosh, Mr. Oblivion appeared right in front of me. I shouted, thrusting my gun forward with my right hand.
Oblivion seemed to realize what I was planning. He didn't come closer, but instead slowly lifted his leg from a distance.
"It's over, Ethan Zhang."
Suddenly, I saw Oblivion unleash a flurry of kicks. A blur of legs—then I was struck by something invisible, followed by a series of crashes. Black blood spewed from my mouth as my body was riddled with holes.
The blows kept coming. I couldn't resist at all. These had to be kicks, but Oblivion was dozens of meters away—how was he hitting me?
With a sudden whoosh, Oblivion appeared right in front of me. I shouted, thrusting my gun forward with my right hand.
I screamed as Mr. Oblivion kicked off my other hand, then gripped my neck tightly, pinning me to the ground.
A black vortex spun on Oblivion's fist. With a thunderous crash, I spun through the air—a gaping hole torn through my chest.
With a rumble, I crashed to the ground, agony flooding my body. I screamed—my ghost soul had been completely pierced through.
Seeing Oblivion coming at me, I swung Hell's Sentinel with my left hand, sending a massive wave of fire at him. I leapt to my feet—I couldn't let him catch me.
"Ah..."
I screamed as Oblivion kicked off my other hand, then gripped my neck tightly, pinning me to the ground.
"Keep this up and you'll die, Ethan Zhang."
Oblivion spoke, right hand clenched, extending his index finger and pointing at me.
"You want to..."
"Ghostgate Seal..."
I screamed as Oblivion's finger jabbed down. Instantly, my consciousness blurred—my ghost aura vanished completely.
With a roar, I snapped back to awareness. In the distance, Brother Owen and Howard Zhang were drawing closer together.
"Oh, still conscious? Ethan Zhang, your willpower is impressive. But you can't do anything now—I've sealed your Ghost Gates completely."